Uniform sanitation system in province, says minister

LAHORE:Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has said that according to the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a long-lasting and uniform system of sanitation is being implemented throughout the province. A pilot project may have some challenges initially, but once the system is in place, it will be easy and facilitating.

The minister was presiding over a meeting of CEOs of waste management companies across the province at the Lahore Waste Management Company office. He said that it is the need of the hour to introduce a sanitation system like developed countries in Punjab which delivers.

‘Keeping in mind the increase in population, we are bringing such a system in which the successful systems of the developed world have been put forward’, he said. During the meeting, the progress in outsourcing sanitation system across Punjab was reviewed. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed, LWMC CEO and officials from private companies also participated.

The minister informed the representatives of private companies about the goals set by the chief minister. Addressing the participants, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique clarified that the purpose of outsourcing was to provide effective and long-lasting sanitation facilities to the citizens. ‘Providing quality sanitation services against a nominal fee will bring permanent convenience for the citizens’, he hoped. He pledged that the selected private companies would be given facilities at every step; however, the whole process would be supervised by the Local Government Department.

The minister said that the government wanted to develop such a sanitation system in Punjab which would be carried by the future governments. He directed that the fee collection system should be kept simple and people friendly. He said that no project can be successful without involving the citizens in the cleaning process. ‘The chief minister wants uniform and standard sanitation system in cities and villages. Inshallah, with the cooperation of the citizens, the Chief Minister’s cleanliness model will be successful’ vowed the minister.